Military Life News

Military Life News, Commissary Rewards and Military Discounts

Julie is a 30-something Blogger, Army Wife and Mom to three boys. She lives in Clarksville, TN and just welcomed her husband home from his 4th deployment. She loves blogging, photography and reading a good book!

When You Deploy, Where Does Your Dog Go?

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No one should have to give up a pet because they have to go somewhere with the military. The Dogs on Deployment organization is a great program for helping service members prepare for a deployment.

Dogs on Deployment supports troopsTheir purpose is to find a place for a service member’s pet to go during a deployment or other military obligation. Not everyone has family members or friends who can take the animals and it can be a frustrating situation when that happens. In a lot of cases the animal has to go to a shelter since the service member will not be able to take their pet with them.

In addition to that, Dogs on Deployment promotes lifelong, responsible pet ownership within the military community. They do this by advocating for pet owner rights on military installations, providing education and resources about pet ownership, granting financial assistance for emergencies, promoting pet insurance and vaccinations as well as the need to spay or neuter animals. The organization also works to make sure everyone has access to the Dogs on Deployment program.

Dogs on Deployment boards pets of all types that belong to active duty, reservists, National Guard, honorably discharged veterans and their families. DoD was started in June 2011 by Shawn and Alisa Johnson, who serve in the Navy and Marine Corps, respectively. They themselves have been in a situation where they needed a program like this for their own pets.

This program is a great one because of the need for help with pets when you have to go away for military duty. No one should have to give up a pet because they have to go somewhere with the military. Even a short-term assignment could cause distress for people who don’t have anyone to watch their animals. The cost of boarding a dog for that long would not be within anyone’s budget either.

Dogs on Deployment supports military pets

If you would like to support this organization, you can make a financial donation, become a sponsor, share their program on social media or even shop on their site. If you would like to board a pet, after registering with the site, you can search to see what pets are available in your area and the dates needed for pet foster care.

This organization was “Founded by Military, for the Military.” It is a great way to give back and to help those fighting for our country.

Should Military Commissaries Ban Plastic Bags?

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Should Military Commissaries Ban Plastic Bags?

Commissary patrons can conveniently recycle their used plastic grocery bags.

Ban plastic bags? Can the Defense Commissary Agency or DeCA really do that? Why would they want to ban plastic grocery bags?

Well, in California, state lawmakers just passed a plastic-bag-ban bill. If the bill is signed it will ban grocery stores from providing the bags to its customers.

The reason a bill like this was passed is to help out the environment. It is probably pretty obvious that there are a lot of plastic bags being taken home by grocery shoppers. Some of them are probably reused for another purpose. I know we like to reuse the ones we get for things like taking snacks or toys to the park to throwing away diapers or other types of mess. They work great to keep in your car and to have on hand if you have small children that might have an accident. There are many ways to reuse the plastic bags but does that make a difference?

According to the Earth Policy Institute, people use 1 trillion plastic bags a year and the average use length was just 12 minutes. Even though some of us reuse them I would assume that the majority of those bags go right into the trash. This can be a big issue as they are not good for the environment. They can take a very long time to decompose (anywhere from 15 to 1,000 years) as well as hurting animals who get stuck in them or who try to eat them.

Wouldn’t it be better to get rid of plastic bags altogether? What if the commissary decided to ban plastic bags? Would it bother you?

We spent 4 years in Germany and the German stores are very different from American ones. Everyone brings their own bags. Some places do allow you to purchase a plastic bag for anywhere from $.10 to $1. Most of these bags are stronger than what you can find in the states and although they are plastic,  you can reuse them a few times. Whenever I went to the German stores I either brought a bag or bought one. However, I never did my big shopping there. I usually only bought 1 bag full anyway.

Since 2008, DeCA has been working to reduce the use of paper and plastic bags through its environmental management program. As part of that program, baggers are asked to not double-bag unless a patron specifically requests it and the commissaries sell their own green reusable grocery bags.  Patrons can also recycle their plastic bags by returning them to collection bins at commissaries stateside.

Plastic Bag Ban for Military Commissaries

Paper, plastic or cloth? What bags do you use when shopping at your military commissary?

If there was a plastic bag ban then people would either need to be OK with paper or bring their reusable grocery bags. This might not be an issue for some although for others it might complicate things. It would be a change and one we would all have to get used to.

If banning plastic bags can help save the environment, it is probably a good thing to do, even at the commissary. If it isn’t going to happen now, it will happen in the future. It is a good idea that most of us get used to bringing our own bags to the store.

What do you think? Do you think a plastic bag ban is a good idea for all grocery stores, including commissaries? Tell us in the comments section.

Military Spouse Says ‘No One Hires Someone Like Me’

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Untitled-2Dear MilitaryShoppers,

I’m a wife to an E7. Who might get QSP’d soon. I have dedicated my life, as many others, to my family and husband. Now, we are faced with him losing his job. I haven’t worked in a long time. No one hires someone like me. I need a degree. Please, any info?

–Supportive Military Spouse

Dear Military Spouse,

I am sorry to hear that your husband will be facing Qualitative Service Program or QSP. No one expects to face involuntary early separation, but it is a reality in the downsizing of today’s military. This transition to the civilian world will be hard.

I think the first thing you need to do is take some time to figure out what you would want to do after he gets out. Will you guys be moving to a different location than you currently live? What’s the job market there? What’s the cost of living? Do you already own a home there?

But before the early separation, you need to put together your resume. Include all your volunteer work with the military through the years and any jobs you might have had. Do not think that no one will hire you because you do not have a degree. You do have something to offer, it is just a matter of putting things together so that you can start applying for the right jobs. You should be able to go to the Army Career and Alumni Program (ACAP) on post to receive assistance with your resume and to find some professional guidance.

Once you have completed your resume, create a LinkedIn profile. Start with the information on your resume and add it to your profile. Start connecting via LinkedIn and even Facebook with potential job leads. Practice your elevation pitch. Let your friends and family members know that you are actively seeking employment.

You can start looking for jobs online at sites such as Indeed.com or Craigslist. Check the listings everyday and apply to any of them that you think would be a good fit. Research military friendly employers and plan to apply for jobs with these companies. Attend a local job fair along with job fairs for veterans and military spouses. Again, be ready to talk about your work experience.

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Another option would be to start your own business. This option is not for everyone but it is something to think about. What are your talents? What are your abilities? Some military spouses have started businesses and are then able to be the family breadwinner after the service member gets out of the military.

Losing the security that the active duty Army brings can be very scary but there are options. Even though you haven’t worked in a long time, it is still possible for you to find a job. It might take some time but you should be able to find something eventually. Stay positive.

Tips on Tipping Your Commissary Bagger

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The question often comes up in military circles about how much you should tip your bagger. I remember when we moved to our first duty station in Germany, the standard seemed to be about $2 to $3, maybe a little more if it was raining or around Christmas.

If you are not familiar with the commissary, the baggers that pack up your groceries and take them to your car do not get an hourly wage. They make their money based on tips. It is expected that you tip your baggers because otherwise they will not be getting paid. Although you are not required to do this, most everyone who shops there does.

But back to the main question: What’s a fair tip for a commissary bagger?

I decided to ask a few military spouses how much they typically tip the baggers at their military commissary. A lot of them said they usually tip $5, maybe a little more or less depending on the size of their cart. A lot of them also said they tip $2 if the bagger only bags the groceries and does not take them out.

You might assume that the baggers are working for a very high hourly wage, and they probably are. $3 for 5 to 10 minutes of work is about $18+an hour. BUT, they also are probably not taking cart after cart out. A lot of times we see baggers waiting around until it is their turn to take out a cart. I think this means that overall they are not making all that much. It would depend on how many others are working and how busy it is at the commissary that day.

Also, most of the baggers are not there for 8 hours a day. Most of them only work a few hours at a time.

How much should you tip your bagger? What is the right amount?

I think it is safe to say that $3 is the average. If you are worried about it and tip $3, I think you should be fine.

That being said, I don’t think it would be wrong to tip a higher amount if you can afford to do so. You might just make a bagger’s day!

And if you don’t want to tip, head to the self check out line.

How much do you tip the baggers at your military commissary?

10 Ways to Spend Less on School Supplies

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10 Ways to Save Money When Buying School Supplies

The cost of school supplies can be shocking for military families, especially if they are buying for more than 1 child.

It’s August and school is due to start again. With a new school year brings the need to buy new school supplies. A lot of schools will provide the school supply list ahead of time. The supplies are based on grade level to make it easy for you to know what you need to buy for your student. The cost of school supplies can be shocking for military families, especially if they are buying for more than 1 child.

Here are 10 ways to save money when shopping for school supplies:

  1. Compare prices. This might seem obvious but make sure you check and see which stores have the best prices. It might be worth your time to find the best deal.
  2. Use coupons. Look and see if you can find any coupons for school supplies. This will save you a little bit of cash.
  3. Tax free weekend. Some states will do this right before school starts. You can save money on taxes by shopping during this time.
  4. Stock up year-round. If you can know what the school supplies are ahead of time, shop year-round for them when you spot a deal. Even if you don’t find a deal you will be able to spread what you need to spend over months instead of having to spend it all on a single shopping trip.
  5. Check the dollar store. You should be able to get some of your supplies for a lot cheaper there.
  6. Shop your home. You probably have at least some scissors, Kleenex and maybe even crayons sitting around your house that you can use for the following  school year. When it comes to backpacks, don’t buy a new one unless it needs to be replaced.
  7. Wait until school starts. This is a hard one for me. I want to be prepared but year after year the teacher requests something a little different from the general list that the school gives out. By doing this you will only buy what is needed and won’t waste money on something that isn’t required by the teacher.
  8. Don’t go for the fancy stuff. While we were shopping I noticed a big difference in price from a regular blue notebook and one with a character on it. To save money it is best to stay away from trademarked items.
  9. Register for contests. There will be school supply giveaways either locally or online. Enter as many as you can. You never know, you might just be the winner and won’t have to pay for anything this year.
  10. Buy in bulk and split them up. Most likely some of your kids are going to require buying the same items. Check and see if buying a 6-pack of highlighters is cheaper and 2- or 3-packs. We have also done this with pencils and glue sticks.
10 Ways to Save Money When Shopping for Back to School

Buy school supply staples, like pencils and crayons, year-round to save money.

School supply shopping can be hard on your budget but hopefully this list will give you a few ideas to make it a little easier for you and your budget.

What are your tips for saving money when shopping for school supplies?

Save on Play Date Snacks at Your Commissary

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August is here! That means a new sales ad for your military commissary. One of the best ways to save money is to shop the sales ads at your favorite stores. You want to make a plan on what to buy based on the sales ad.

In August there are quite a few snack choices. It would be a great idea to stock up on some of them to have around the house for a play date or even for your own children.

Hosting a weekly or monthly play date would be a great way to meet new people. You can get to know them as the kids get to know each other. It also allows some time for moms to hang out with other moms and get some time to talk with other adults.

When planning a play date, you could stock up on the Nature’s Valley granola bars. They come in a few different types and you could even cut them in half to display on a plate. You might also want to pick up some of the Totino’s pizza rolls. These can be made in the oven ahead of time. The moms might really enjoy these to have as a snack while the kids play.

Speaking of the moms, you can buy some of the coffee and tea that is for sale to have on hand. Moms love to talk over coffee or tea and it would be nice to offer that to them even if you don’t drink it yourself.

Don’t forget about the kids and get some of the Hi-C fruit juice boxes to have on hand. Kids love them and they are easy to hand to thirsty children.

If you would rather host a breakfast type play date you can get some of the Eggo waffles, add some berries and whip cream and serve a tasty snack for your friends and their kids. You can pick up some of the Simply Orange Juice to serve with your coffee and tea.

As you can see there are a few ways to use August’s commissary sales ad to save some money on play date snacks.

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Wife Searching for the Spouse Sisterhood

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Dear MilitaryShoppers,Untitled-2

I’m new to the military. My husband joined late (he was 26 years old) and we have 2 kids, ages 5 and 2 years old. We just moved to our first duty station, San Diego. My husband is working all the time and I’m home with the kids. How do I meet people and make friends? I thought the military was one big fraternity of support. Please help.

Signed,

Lonely at Camp Pendleton

 

Dear Lonely at Camp Pendleton,

It can be difficult to meet people and really feel like you have a circle of friends when you first move somewhere. Sometimes it takes months. I tell myself that it can take up to six months to find a group of friends in a new location. You sometimes need time to get used to your new surroundings and to feel comfortable with your new home.

There are some things that you can do to make new friends at your new duty station. You should check and see if they have any activities for kids. At a lot of places they have different playgroups that you can join. These are great places to make some new friends. Go in with a smile, be friendly and you should be able to meet some new people. You can also take your kids to the park and see if you can meet some people there. Usually you will find other moms at the park that you probably have something in common with.

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Make sure to do a search on Facebook for groups out of Camp Pendleton. You can join these groups and find out when they meet up in real life. You might be able to find a group that has to do with one of your hobbies such as fitness or reading.

If you are religious, church is another great way to make some friends. There are also Bible studies you can attend on most military installations.

The key is finding an activity that you or your kids enjoy and finding others who enjoy it too. When you attend these groups, you know going in that you have at least a few things in common with them.

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Good luck to you as you search out what is available in your community. Before you know it will you be making friends and will have the circle of support you are looking for.

Click2Go Services Available at Commissary

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Information about the Click2Go service at military commissaries.

Click2Go services allow commissary shoppers to buy groceries online and pick them up curbside.

Recently I heard about a new service at certain military commissaries that is going to make life a lot easier for commissary shoppers.

Click2Go services!

With this type of service you can order your groceries online, choose a time you want to go get them, pickup your food and head home. You will be able to pickup your food curbside. What a great convenience.

This type of service is ideal for the military community where most families have to bring all the children to the store with them. It also will be handy for those with special needs. I would have loved to have something like this when my kids were younger. It would have saved time and a lot of stress.

Unfortunately, it is currently only offered at 3 commissaries: Fort Lee, Offutt Air Force Base and Travis Air Force Base.

How does Click2Go work?

You create an account, log-in and then virtually browse through all the foods. Add the foods you want to your online cart. When you are ready to check out, you can do so by reserving your pickup time. You can also tell the system if you are OK with replacement orders if they are out of stock of one of the foods you have put in your cart. Once you submit your order, you should be able to pick it up at your selected time.You must place your order at least 6 hours before you want to pickup your food.

How do I pay with Click2Go?

Most grocery items will be offered with this system. There will be a limited amount of meat, bakery, deli and seafood items. You will not pay for the groceries online. You pay when you pickup the items. You will be given an estimated total but the actual total will be based on the prices at the time of pickup.

What you need to know about the Click2Go services at your military commissary.

New Click2Go services are ideal for military families.

Should I tip with Click2Go?

It is also important to know that you are not allowed to tip the person that brings out the food.

You can visit the Click2Go website for more information.

I think this service could be a good one. I think time will tell if it works out the way it should. I am sure if it is going to come to other commissaries, but that will not happen for a few more years.

Here is one military spouse’s review of the Click2Go service.

Have you or would you use the Click2Go service at the commissary? Have you used a curbside grocery service similar to this one?

 

Deployed Spouse Causes Distraction, Worry

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Untitled-2Dear MilitaryShoppers,

My husband is currently deployed. I feel lucky to have a job that keeps me busy, but honestly I‘m distracted at work. I am constantly checking my phone to see if my husband called and I’m not sleeping well at night. I feel like I might quit my job. What should I do?

Signed,

Distracted Milso in Virginia Beach

 

Dear Distracted Milso,

I can totally understand always wanting to check your phone to see if you missed a call. I also know how hard it can be to not be able to sleep at night.

One thing that might help is writing your husband letters as well as writing in a journal every night. By writing him letters you will feel like he is more connected to you and you can write them at anytime. You don’t have to wait for him to be online or call you. By writing in a journal each night you will be able to fall asleep a little easier. If you can get all your worry out on paper, it will make you feel a little better and more likely to sleep.

How to Keep Busy When Your Husband is Deployed

Try to keep your phone in a drawer while you are at work.

As for if you should quit your job or not, I think it depends. What would you do to fill the time that you would normally be at work? You want to stay as busy as possible so if you know you would be bored without a job, it is not a good idea to quit. You might want to make a list of pros and cons about your job to see what would be the best decisions for you.

If you feel comfortable enough you could talk to your boss about what is going on and see if he or she has any suggestions to help make work a little easier for you. You could also try to keep your phone in a drawer or out of sight while you are at work.

Good luck to you. Remember that as hard as deployments are, they don’t last forever. It is just about figuring out the best way to make it through them.

Do you have a military community question? We want to hear from you. Submit your question today.

No Crying at the Commissary

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3 Tips to Entertaining Your Child While Shopping at the Commissary

Never take your child to the commissary right before naptime.

Grocery shopping with your children can be a real challenge. As a military family, many times I have had to head to the commissary to buy groceries with my children in tow. When your spouse is away for a deployment or training, you really have no other choice.

Here are 3 ideas on how to entertain your kids at your military commissary.

Old Fashioned Entertainment: Toys

Bring small toys that your children can play with while sitting in the cart. Make it something that they enjoy and that will keep them entertained. Cars, Legos and dolls work well for this. It might be a good idea to keep a bag of toys in the car just for this purpose.

Helper Entertainment: Give Them a Shopping List

When my oldest was a lot younger and I took him to the store with me, I would give him a “list” and told him to help me get everything on it. This kept him busy and gave him something to do. It can be a great way for your kids to feel like they are really helping you, even when they are too young to do so.

Edible Entertainment: Pack Snacks

Bringing a snack can go a long way when shopping with a child. If they are in the commissary and see food all around them, they are probably going to want to eat too. Bring a little sack of something they enjoy and give it to them when you start shopping. You might want to bring extra in case the shopping trip goes a little long or you get stuck in a line that takes forever. Don’t forget to pack a snack for yourself to curb any impulsive purchases.

You can also make sure to time your shopping trips so that your kids are rested and are less likely to act cranky or upset. Going right before nap time is not the best idea. I know for myself that sometimes you just have to go when you have to go and you just have to work around it. Try to prepare as much as possible and do what you can to keep your kids occupied while you make your shopping trip.

3 Tips to Entertaining Your Child at the Commissary

Pack a snack when shopping at the commissary

Remember too that having to entertain your children at the grocery store is not going to be something you have to do forever. Your spouse will come home and you can run out and do the grocery shopping without the children. Your kids will get older and be able to really help you with your shopping which will be a wonderful thing.

What are your strategies for entertaining your children at the commissary?